Ready to eat: How to ripen your avocado in just 10 minutes

Avocado not ripe yet?

There’s nothing more frustrating than cutting into a beautiful avocado only to find it’s rock-hard inside. Sure, it looks perfectly green and glossy on the outside - but it’s firm like a stone. The good news? There’s a quick and easy trick that softens your avocado in just minutes. No oven, no overnight waiting.

The hot water trick

This method is as simple as it gets: Place your unripe avocado in a heatproof bowl and pour boiling water over it until fully covered. Let it sit for about 10 minutes. The heat speeds up the ripening process, making the flesh softer, creamier, and more flavorful.

Tip: Be sure to let it drain well and cool down completely before cutting. This helps preserve the delicate texture – perfect for spooning or spreading on toast.

More ways to ripen an avocado

Besides the hot water hack, here are two other popular methods to try:

► Oven + foil: Wrap the whole avocado in foil and place it in the oven at around 100°C (210°F) for 10–15 minutes. Let it cool completely before slicing. Heads up: this method softens the fruit, but doesn’t fully ripen it. Best for blended recipes like guac or dressings.
► Paper bag with apple or banana: Place the unripe avocado in a brown paper bag along with a ripe banana or apple. These fruits release ethylene gas, which naturally speeds up ripening. After 1–3 days, your avocado should be nice and soft.

Photo by Thought Catalog via Unsplash.